I've Got Gas... (467 hits)
Category: NoneRating: -0.13 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by The Brewski (View user info) at 2008-09-12 11:06:33 EDT
Sorry to disappoint, but this isn't a post about flatulence or a poop story. It's a rant about gas prices. Yeah.
In light of recent events, the hurricane headed this way, gas prices along the Gulf Coast have risen a dollar over night. This bumped them up to reaching almost five bucks a gallon. This is an outrage. Business Week posted an article on the matter quoting several refinery managements and the basics were thus:
They had to raise prices because they were shutting down many refineries in the Gulf Coast area. This put lots of people out of work, possibly only temporarily but the impact is still bad on middle to lower class workers. The shutting down of the factories have been attributed to fears of Ike closing in on them. I understand that. But in my opinion, the surge in gas prices wasn't needed. They've done it to turn a profit off of the people driving away to evacuate from Ike. WTF!?
Everyone knows that every business' point is to make a profit. Understandable. However, attempting to make a profit through other people's suffering and hardship is inhumane. I'm not some hippy out to end the oil companies because they're polluting our environment, but I sure wouldn't mind burning down one of their corporate buildings to make a fucking point.
I'm a middle class guy. My life is nothing special. I've got a college degree, but still a relatively low paying job. (Can you guess what it is? Hint: Shitty pay and I'm technically employed by the state.) I can't fucking afford five bucks a gallon in gas. That's out-fucking-rageous.
I'm not really trying to accomplish anything with this post. It's just a rant. Gas prices are a bitch and everyone knows it. But there's a deep dark circle of hatred in my heart reserved for these oil companies. Why have they become so high and mighty? They can basically bend the economy to their will and we obey. How has this fucking happened? What happened to the independent, revolutionary spirit that was once inside many in this country? We through tea off a goddamned boat cause it was too expensive people! Why the fuck are we standing for this!?
Something should be done. The question is, how will we be rallied to make a change? Can anyone do it? Will anyone do it? These oil execs need to be put in their place. It's time to knock em down a peg or two.
And did anyone see when Colbert was talking about gas companies expenses and held up the clipping from a magazine showing a dollar. The dollar was cut into a few parts each with its percentage of the dollar and purpose written there. So much went to taxes, so much went to refinement, so much went to pumping and transporting it. Apparently not a cent went into profit. Oil is a non-profit organization folks.
User Reviews
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2008-09-13 16:54:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
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Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2008-09-13 16:54:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Ltap (user info) at 2008-09-12 16:43:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Your thinking is admirable. However, the "revolutionary spirit" was a rabble led by educated and independently wealthy community leaders who had everything to gain by rebelling and did so for no reason other than profit (it's no coincidence that Americans were never really revolutionary despite heavy taxes... until the British started taxing commodities used by rich men). If you read the work of less-biased (hint: non-American-educated) historians, you find out that in reality, Benedict Arnold deserted not because he "hated America" but because he disliked the inherent corruption and injustice of the new system of government. These oil companies are controlled by men such as those - once with no official political power, but who have enormous influence through alliances and friendships with politicians as well as bribery and financial pressure.
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 12:58:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:53:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Watching a fairy come to the rescue of a potential 300 pound dyke is quite funny. It's almost as threatening as a sneeze.
_______________________________________
OH MY GOSH!! How DID you know that I am a 300lb dyke??
Someone call God...He's not the only omnipotent around here, anymore!!
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2008-09-12 12:04:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I have an idea on converting one of my motorcycles to LP or CNG (probably LP, as I'm in Florida). If it works, I'll make kits and sell them. We'll see how it goes.
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-09-12 12:03:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hush, puppy.
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2008-09-12 12:02:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Good one, FJ. Really, it was...
NOT!
Oh snap! FJ just got burned.
Seriously, that was a pathetic attempt. Try again.
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-09-12 12:00:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
And you appear as pathetically vacuous as the snacks after which you are named.
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:53:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Watching a fairy come to the rescue of a potential 300 pound dyke is quite funny. It's almost as threatening as a sneeze.
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:47:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah...no I haven't, actually...but then I haven't run into many red headed men for whatever odd reason. Maybe they all dye their hair brown or something.
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:39:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Its not Garrick/Oathmeal's fault. When have you ever met a ginger-haired fellow who could control his temper?
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:38:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Old bullies haunting you again, eh Gin...Garrik? It's ok...I am ugly AND unfunny...no contest!!
Submitted by Garrik (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:36:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Sage is an unfunny, ugly tramp.
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:35:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Well FJ, I had already made mine (i.e. the uber doesn't equal news comment earlier)...but dohnuts apparently wanted to pick on me and then Garrik joined in...WTF? Who ARE these clowns?
Jeebus!!
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:34:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Is there a point?
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:33:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
What's your point?
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:33:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Accept that we're both right...I'm giving a rating BASED on a POINTS system.
I'm spectacular.
Submitted by Garrik (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:33:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
MINUS TWO POINTS!!!
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:31:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
You aren't giving points, failure--you are giving a rating.
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:29:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Yeah, my news outlet of choice is MSNBC and for kicks, I like The Onion or Freakanomics.
And yuh huh...uber does TOO have points...see?! I'm giving one just 'cause!
Submitted by F.J.Bell (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:26:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 16:15:41 BST (#)
Ranking: -1
I dont come to ubersite to read the news...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And if you ever do then you have, as the French would say, 'une probleme.'
Submitted by dohnuts (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:25:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Ubersite also doesn't have points, dumb shit stain below.
Submitted by sage104 (user info) at 2008-09-12 11:15:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
I dont come to ubersite to read the news...